Car-coupling



(No Model.)

. S. BRAY.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 258,704. Patented May 30, 1882.

xgulll WITNESSES: "HNVENTQ'PU;

Uwrrnn STATES Pater anion,

- SANFORD BRAY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,704, dated May 30, 1882.

Application filed April 7, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SANFORD BRAY, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massach usetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap, simple, convenient, and durable automatic car-couplin g which is adapted to couple together when the opposite draw-bars are brought into contact; or, if desired, the drawbars may be brought together without coupling, as occasion may require, and is equally adapted to couple with or be coupled to the common draw-bar having a link and pin, as now in use; and it consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of a link hinged at one end to the car-body and provided with a projection or end adapted to contact with a shoulder or projection formed upon the drawbar when same is forced inwardly by the opposing draw-bar, and thus cause the link to fall or swing downward and drop over the bent end or projecting portion of a coupling-pin arranged in such opposite draw-bar, and in details of construction hereinafter more fully described, and set forth in the claims.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a car-coupling constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 represents a vertical longitudinal section of the same.

A represents the end of a common freightcar provided with the blocks or dead-wood B, as usual, and beneath the car-bodyis secured the spring-buffer or draw-bar E, which is provided with the mouth or opening '1, extending within the end as heretofore, and adapted to receive therein the common link when desired to couple with the common pin. I provide a coupling-link, 0, one end of which is hinged directly to the end of the car-body A by suitable eyes .or connections, and is provided with a projecting end or projecting pin or portion, D, so arranged as to project downward and forward when the link U is turned up vertically against the end of the car-body, as shown in Fig. 1, so that when the opposing draw-bar of another car is brought into contact with the end of the said draw-bar E, forcing it inwardly, a projection or shoulder, H, is

brought-to contact with said projection D of the hinged link 0, and thereby cause the link to fall downward, its opposite end passing over the curved end J of the pin L, such curved end preventing the said link from being forced or thrown upward by any sudden movement of the cars; and, in order to further guard against liability of such link to uncouple therefrom, I provide a projecting guard, G, or upwardcurved spring secured to the draw-bar at one end, the opposite forward end extending beneath the said curved end J of the couplingpin L, which is provided. with a small guardlink, N, which is adapted to pass downward over the curved projection or horn P, provided near the outer end of the draw-bar on the top thereof, so as to prevent such curved end J of the said pin L from turning in the opposite direction while the draw-bars are coupled together. But when itis desired to permit such link 0 to uncouple from the connection the small linkNis raised from the horn P, and the pin is turned one-half around, so as to bring the curved end J forward and resting upon the horn, as shown in dotted lines, when the coupling-link G is free to be drawn over the same by motion of the car, or may be again turned into its former vertical position preparatory to being automatically thrown or turned downward again, as above described.

It'will be seen in Fig. 2 that the lower end of the said pin L is provided with a short horizontal pin or projection, 1", which prevents the said pin L from being thrown or forced upward when in position to hold the coupling-link C, but that when thesaid pin is turned one-half round the said projection r is permitted to pass within the groove 8, formed in the lower the end of the draw-bar, soas to be retained in a pendent position beneath the draw-bar, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

It will be understood that the couplingpin L may be secured against turning within the draw-bar by means of a latch instead of the link and horn, which may be omitted, or by means of a ring adapted to engage with the projecting end of the guard or spring G, and thus prevent the couplinglink C from becoming detached or thrown upward over the end of the said coupling-pin when the train of such cars is suddenly stopped, the momentum of the cars bringing the heads of the draw-bars together with great force, thereby tending to throw such coupling-links upward when relieved of strain.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The coupling-links O, hinged to the end of the car-body, and provided with a projection, D, adapted to contact with a projection or shoulder, H, formed upon the draw-bar B, when the said draw-bar is forced inwardly by contact with an opposing drawbar in the act of coupling, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with the draw-bar E, having the horn I? and guard or spring G, and provided with the coupling-pin L, having the curved upper end portion,J, provided with the guard-link N, and its lower end provided with ashort pin or projectiomr, and the hinged coupling-link, 0 provided with theprojeotion D, substantially as described, as and for the purposes set forth.

The combination, with the draw-bar E, having the projecting horn P, of the couplingpin L, having the curved upper end portion, J, provided with the guard-link N, adapted to engage with said horn, as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination, with the draw-bar E, having the shoulder H, and provided with the couplingpin L, having the bent upper portion, J, of the coupling-link (3, adapted to be turned down to couple by thehorizontal or inward movement of the said draw-bar, substantially as described, as and for the purposes set forth.

SANFORD BRAY.

Witnesses:

SYLvENUs WALKER, JAMES T. DORSEY. 

